Bill Harris will soon be heading to India for an urgent medical procedure. Doctors recently told him he needs a heart valve replacement within six months.

A Time Magazine article on "medical tourism" peaked his interest in an overseas surgery, and for uninsured people like Harris, price is a major factor.

"It looks like now I can get the operation in India. A single heart valve replacement for probably 15,500 and that's 10 percent, 10 percent of what it would cost here in the states. You can't beat that."

The surgery here could cost up to $200,000. His price includes a 12 day trip, consultation, actual surgery, and recovery time. But of course, there are some risks.

Harris found a company online called Health-Base, which acts as an intermediary between him and the doctor in India, but according to cardiologist Hashem Mubarak, finding a competent doctor isn't the only factor to consider.

"You want to make sure that the whole team is very good, not just the surgeon, but the operation room team, the medical doctor, the whole facility, the hospital."

But Harris says with his condition, he's willing to take the chance.

"Five weeks from now it will all be over. A good functioning heart valve, or I'll be dead, so the problem ends five weeks from now."

Harris is now waiting for his passport to arrive. He expects to get it within the next few days. He hopes to be in India in about a month.